Russia (bbabo.net), - The rector of the local church, hegumen Mitrofan, managed to revive life in the small village of Rezovatovo and the surrounding villages. Yesterday's city dweller organized a farm here. On the proceeds from it, he maintains three churches. And the agricultural cooperative "Podvorie" created by the priest unites more than 300 people and even received a bronze medal at the All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition "Golden Autumn".

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Garden near the temple

The ancient village of Rezovatovo is painfully similar to other disappearing "points on the map" of the Russian hinterland. In the summer, it comes to life: the surroundings resound with the cheerful hubbub of children who have come for the holidays, summer residents busily swarm in the gardens. In winter, on the rural streets - ringing silence, and beyond the outskirts - snow to the horizon.

Once there was a large collective farm and a brick factory. In the 1990s, the collective farm collapsed, and the plant, as residents say, "was torn apart brick by brick." The village quickly became depopulated. The last - quite recently - the school was closed. Local historians say that it was founded in the 19th century by the inspector of public schools Ilya Nikolaevich Ulyanov. And in the 30s of the XX century, the political followers of his son blew up the church in Rezovatov.

- At that time, the so-called "hoe" rebellion against collectivization broke out here. The ringing of the church bell served as a signal for its beginning. Therefore, after the suppression of the uprising, the temple suffered a sad fate, - says father Mitrofan (in the world - Alexander Korshunov). - The new one opened only 70 years later - in 2000. And I became its first pastor. In the church, after all, as in the army, they don’t choose a place of service. Vladyka said: "The village is small, it will be difficult for a priest and his family to live there. And you are a monk, it will be easier for you." I packed my two suitcases and went...

The young priest - he then turned exactly 33 - was initially sheltered by the villagers on the veranda. And with the onset of cold weather, they found an old house: an elderly mistress moved to her daughter in the city for the winter.

- I remember, I came for the first time to the temple where I was to serve, - they gave him the premises of the former kindergarten. And there the slate roof is leaky, the floors are wavy from dampness, there are holes two fingers wide in the windows, the wind is walking. All church property - four icons. I looked around: "That's lucky so lucky ..." - says the interlocutor. - First of all, the local grandmothers and I invited the master - he folded the Dutch oven. Oh, and I suffered with it - I’m a city man, I don’t know how to heat! But nothing - somehow they overwintered the first winter. And in the spring they decided to plant a vegetable garden near the temple.

"Let's plant potatoes, sell them and earn money for repairs," - such was Father Mitrofan's simple business plan. The basics of agricultural technology were taught to the parishioners.

- Worked together - amicably, quickly, with jokes. We will gather 20-25 people, we will manage in an hour and a half, then we will drink tea, - the rector shares. - One evening, after the service, they brought bricks for repairs. So everyone stood in a chain, unloaded, folded.

For three years the potato field was the main source of income for the village church.

- Earlier, when the raipo, the procurement office, were still operating, it was possible to live in the village at the expense of the garden. But then that didn't happen either. Autumn came, and no one goes for our potatoes, so the crop was thrown into the ravine. After that, people began to leave Rezovatov even more actively, - the interlocutor sighs. - When I first arrived here, there were 400 inhabitants in the village. There are three times less - only 140 ...

"I became a farmer by accident"

The rector could not leave the parish and leave. As an alternative, it was decided to take up animal husbandry: together with the church head Dmitry Yelin, they took two bulls for fattening.

- You know what's amazing? Usually bulls are mischievous. You look, it used to be that the owner’s bull was chasing around the village. And our church ones are like kittens: affectionate, meek. We got inspired, took out a loan, built a farmstead at the church, bought seven cows. Now I remember those first steps - my hair stands on end! They themselves carried manure into the ravine. Then we got a tractor, a cart. Of course, a priest does not seem to be qualified for such a job. But where to go? .. The most difficult, of course, haymaking - seven sweats will do. In hell, sinners must be tortured like that! - Father Mitrofan laughs. - Of course, I did not think about farming. But when we went to the head of the district to ask for land, it turned out that subsidiary farms at churches and monasteries have no right to subsidies, subsidies, or assistance in buying fertilizers and diesel fuel. This is the gap in the law. That's why I had to become the head of the KFH. Then, when they gained experience, they began to participate in federal programs. We met knowledgeable people - veterinarians, livestock specialists. After all, animals are like children - they need an eye and an eye for them. Well, the parishioners, of course, helped - as is customary in the village, by the whole world.Now there are about 50 cows on the new farm in the abbot's household. On average, a ton of milk is handed over to the local cheese factory every day. Motley "holshtinok" is guarded by a shaggy dog. Once the former owner brought him to Father Mitrofan: "Father, take it - the dog has become quite old. Or I will have to shoot him ..." Since then, there has not been a more devoted guard here. On income from the farm, temples are maintained in the villages of Rezovatovo, Kamaevo, and Paradeevo. The object is mechanized according to the latest agricultural fashion. Only three people manage the livestock.

- No time to talk - you have to work! - the headman of the parish Dmitry Yelin jokingly dismisses, deftly wielding a pitchfork. But then he agrees to talk.

Now there are 50 cows on the new farm in the abbot's household. On average, every day a ton of milk is handed over to the local cheese factory

- Yes, I have been helping the father from the first day. As soon as we met, I immediately believed him, ”he recalls. - I myself also became a farmer by accident - I am a driver by profession. Of course, there is enough work - both in summer and in winter. I arrive at the farm at four in the morning. After dinner - again here, leaving at eight in the evening. But I do not regret: I have to feed my family, I have four children. How much do I earn? Secret, otherwise they will envy ...

Recipe from the "green serpent"

Other villagers followed the example of the abbot. Three years ago, the agricultural cooperative "Podvorie" was created. Now it unites more than 300 people from all over the Ichalkovsky district. Thanks to this, people got the opportunity to earn money in their small homeland.

- The village lives, if there is at least some kind of production. If not, it is actually doomed, - Father Mitrofan says. - By the way, this is the best remedy in the fight against another misfortune - drunkenness. When I arrived here, many people drank heavily. Sometimes they came to me to ask for vodka. He explained that I could not give money for this - a sin. "I'll die after all!" - intimidated alone. "Well, if you die, I'll give you a drink..." "Pour it!" others demanded. "Well, let's pour - holy water ..." Then they started talking differently: "Father, is there any work?" And when a person has worked hard, his thoughts are different. You look, it’s coming from the store, and the bag is no longer a bottle, but food - bread, a herring tail sticking out ... Now there is no general drunkenness in the village. Many have moved on and started families. Peasant labor disciplines well. There were three drinkers left. I recently met one, I tell him: "You are already over 40, your mother died, your father is old, sick. He will not be - how will you live?" He answered: "I know, there are no brides in the village ..." - "Do you yourself need a drinking bride? A person without a family is impossible. It's me, a monk, I'm talking!" Look, I'm thinking...

Father Mitrofan's agricultural cooperative is often referred to in the old fashioned way - a collective farm. The father himself prefers another word.

- In our church they say - "co-workers", - he explains. - So they call people who not only work together, but also like-minded people in spirit. Difficulties, as you know, unite, and there are so many of them in the village! We believed, hoped, and what we got is really a miracle. It was like God was helping us. On our way, people always appeared who prompted, averted trouble. My main victory is that in the villages where I serve, there are churches, and people come there. After all, where else in the village to go for help? Here is an example: a man recently buried his beloved wife. This was a strong blow for him - he began to think about suicide. He is advised: "Go to the temple," but he has never been there, it is even difficult to cross the threshold. He came for the first time, stood for a few minutes and left. A week later he appeared again - and again on the way out. "I can't," he says, "it's sickening." I told him: "And you endure it. Sit down, drink water ..." He endured, took communion - and let him go. Of course, the pain remained. But not the same as before - sharp, burning, but dulled. The man realized that you can’t return the past, but life goes on. Yes, there are few villagers left in Rezovatov. But they also need to live with dignity. After all, people are like gemstones: everyone is different, but everyone is valuable. If I managed to help at least someone, it means that I did not serve in vain.

Number

332 people are united by the agricultural cooperative "Podvorye".

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